Javelin



Patented Mar. 12, 1935 .UNITED szrAr-Es PMENTk OFFICE `9 Claims.

vMy `invention relates 'to jaV'elins and the like and morespecically -to a means for preventing breakage of the shaft thereof.

yItis well known that, Ain the use of the javelin i-i in `competitive sports and infpracticing therefor,

the ordinary woodenishafts of javelins frequently break. It has been found that in the majority 'of cases the breakage of the shaft of the javelin shaft at the lpoint where the shaft venters the ferrule of the head.

Specically, the .invention comprises -afmetallic collar integrally or otherwise securedto'the rear- `Ward -end ofthe ferrule of `the Vmetallic javelin head, this collar being'o'f slightly larger diameter than theshaft of the'javelin and extendingrear- Iwardly a substantiall distance lfrom the rearward end of the ferrulesin such a manner as to limit the bending of the vshaft at the point -Where the shaft enters the ferrule.y v

lIt is another object of the invention to provide a collarof thel type referred'to inthe abovey paragraph which includes means adapted vto definitely limit the bend-of vthe shaft relative to the head but'at the Sametime provides sufficient resiliency so 'that the stress occasioned by the bending of the shaft relative to the head is distributed over a-substantial portion of the shaft v'to the rearward of the ferrule. 'Ihese and other objects will be apparent vfrom a perusal of the following part of `the speciiication'and the appended claims in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the metallic head of a javelin and ap'ortionof the shaft assodated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the javelin head illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. n

Figs. '4 and5 'are 'respectively elevational and longitudinal sectionalviews of an alternative form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating still another form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, and-3, I show the forward end of a javelin which includes a metallic head generally designated bythe numeral' 11 and a non-metallic shaft 12 which is generally formed -of wood. v v

The head 11 comprises a tubular! ferrule 13 'which is preferably'slightly tapered, converging toward v'the-forward end thereof. Integrally `or otherwise fixed vto the forward end of the'fe'rrule l3is a tip 14. The shaft 12`is provided at the forward end thereof 'with a tapered portion 15 adapted to be received'by the tubular ferrrule -13 in a press-fit relationtherewith substantially in the manner -indicatedfin Fig. 2.

`The means for limiting the lateral bend @of the shaft 12 at the rear end 16 of the ferrule-13, comprises a tubular collar Vmember' 17 having a forward end 18 of `such a diameter as to lfitover :the rearward end of the ferrule 13` substantially rin the manner shown and which may be welded or 'otherwise securedto the 'ferrule 13', as -indi. catedat 19 in Fig. 2. The rearward endf20 of Vthe tubular lcollar vmember 17 extends rearwardly from the end 16 of the ferrule 13 for a substantial distance andsurroundsthe shaft in relatively spaced relationship' therewith. Preferably the Vrearward end of the collar 17 is slightly tapered so that the space between the collar y17 and the shaft 12 progressively increases toward the rearward-end thereof from apoint 21 adjacent the rearward end 16 of the ferrule.`

4'When a javelin equipped with 'this form of head -is thrown, and the shaft is caused to whip 'or bend when the movement lof the head'of the of the shaft relative to the head is arrested. By v,

thus allowing a predetermined bend of the shaft to occur but limiting this lbend toan amount less than the critical point at which breakage would occur atthe point 16, the stress occavsioned by thebending of the shaftis distributed over a substantial distance beyond the point v1K6 and the rearward end of the collar 17 instead of allowing the concentration of this stress lat the point 16. l

'Referring tov Figs. 4, 5 and 6, l1 show in these figures a modification of the collar 17. In this form the collar 17 is shown as being formed integrally with the ferrule 13 in sucha manner as to provide a stepped portion at the pointl terminating rearwardly in an enlarged diameter portion 30.

In order to provide additional resiliency to the 'collar '30, 'if desired, so 'that ample flexingof the shaft is notA impaired, I prefer to provide a series of kerfs 32 extending from a point adjacent the point 16 rearwardly to the end of the collar` 30 substantially in the manner shown.

VIt will be seen that in this form the resilient fingers 35 formed by the series of kerf slots 32 serve to absorb sudden shock due to violent impact between the shaft 12 and the collar 30, while at the same time limiting the bend of the shaft sufficiently to prevent breakage at thepoint 16.

Referring to Fig. 7, I show a form of the invention which includes a ring 40 formed of a compressible material such as rubber, which is adapted to be positioned preferably between the extreme rearward end of the collar 17 and the shaft 12 for the purpose of resiliently absorbing the shock caused by the lateral whippingl of the shaft relative to the head 11.

The rubber ring 40 is preferably used in conjunction with a collar of the type disclosed in Fig. 2, but may, if preferred, be used in connection with the collar 30 which provides the resilient fingers 35.

From the foregoing it-will be evident that the various forms of the invention provide a means for distributing the force, occasioned by the bending of the shaft which in turn is caused by impact of the javelin with the ground, over a substantial length of the shaft, thus preventing the breakage of the shaft. The importance of this function will be realized in that a great majority of the frequent breakages of javelin shafts occur at the point where the shaft enters the ferrule of the head and that when this breakage occurs the shaft can no longer be utilized. Even though only a comparatively small portion of the shaft is broken off, the shaft cannot be tapered off to t the ferrule 13 and reused for the reason that the balance and weight of the javelin would not be correct. Therefore, this high rate of breakage of the shafts of javelins used in competitive sports and the practice therefor,

`amounts to a very material cost.

Actual tests which I have made of my invention show that by the use thereof approximately l% of the breakage of javelin shafts in organized competitive meets and in practice is eliminated.

It should be understood that I am aware that the invention is capable of a wide variety of mechanical expressions and that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be'taken merely as the preferred examples of the same and that such minor changes, arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit and scope of the invention, the same to be interpreted by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of: a head providing a bore; a shaft seated in said bore; and means associated with said head and said shaft for limiting the amount said shaft may bend laterally at the point said shaft enters said bore.

2. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of: a head providing a bore; a shaft seated in said bore; and means rigidly carried by said headand engageable with said shaft at a substantial distance from said head to limit the amount said shaft may bend at the point said shaft enters said bore.

3. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of: a head providing a bore; a shaft seated in said bore; and a collar secured to said head adjacent the end of said bore operable to limit the amount said shaft may bend laterally relative to said head at the point said shaft enters said bore.

4. In'a javelin or similar device of the character described, ther combination of a head terminating in a tubular ferrule; a shaft seated in said ferrule; and a member secured to and extending rearwardly from the end of said ferrule, said member having a rearward portion extending around said shaft in relatively spaced relationship therewith at a substantial distance rearwardly from the end of said ferrule, said rearward portion being adapted to limit the amount said shaft may bend laterally relative to said head intermediately of the rearward end of said ferrule and said rearward portion of said member.

5. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of a head terminating rearwardly in a tubular ferrule; a shaft;

seated in said ferrule; and a collar carried by said head and having a rearward portion extending around said shaft at a substantial distance rearwardly from the end of said ferrule, said collar being operable to allow said shaft to bend a predetermined amount but limiting said bend of said shaft to distribute the stress occasioned by said bending over a substantial length of said shaft rearwardly from said ferrule.

6. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of a head terminating rearwardly in a tubular ferrule; a shaft seated in said ferrule; and a collar extending co-axially with said ferrule in relatively spaced relationship with said shaft a'substantial distance rearwardly from the end of said ferrule, said collar engaging said shaft when said shaft is bent to prevent breakage of the shaft at the point said shaft enters said ferrule.

7. YIn a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of a head terminating in a tubular ferrule; a shaft seated in said ferrule; a collar associated with said ferrule and having a rearward portion surrounding said shaft in relatively spaced `relationship therewith a substantial distance 4rearwardly from the end of said ferrule; and resilient means associated with said collar engaging said shaft to resiliently limit the amount said shaft may bend at the point where said shaft enters said ferrule.

8. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of: a head terminating in a tubular ferrule; a shaft seated in said ferrule; and a collar associated with said head and resiliently engaging said shaft at a substantial distance rearwardly from the end of said ferrule to resiliently limit the amount said shaft may bend laterally relative to said head at the point where said shaft enters said ferrule.

9. In a javelin or similar device of the character described, the combination of: a head terminating in a tubular ferrule; a shaft seated in said ferrule; a ring of compressible material surrounding said shaft at a substantial distance rearwardly from the end of said ferrule; and means rigidly secured to said head operable by engagement with said ring to resiliently limit the amount said shaft may bend at the point said shaft enters said ferrule.

JOSEPH A. PIPAL. 

